VC firms, angels, accelerators, DFIs, and corporate venture arms backing African founders.
@iBizAfrica Centre, Strathmore University
Venture Capital
iBizAfrica Centre at Strathmore University runs the Standard Chartered Women in Tech Incubator in Kenya. The incubator supports women-led tech businesses through training, mentorship, and access to networks. It is described as Africa's leading incubator program, but specific investment amounts or sector focus beyond women in tech are not detailed in the provided articles.
Acacia Ventures
Acacia Ventures invests in early-stage African tech startups. They focus on companies that streamline website creation, customer engagement, and online advertising for businesses. They participated in the undisclosed funding round of Tappi, a Kenyan SaaS platform.
Africa Re
Africa Re invests in health tech startups in East Africa. They focus on companies that improve access to healthcare services through digital platforms, telemedicine, and innovative financing models. These startups aim to address challenges such as limited access to quality medication, healthcare disparities, and affordability of medical products.
Altree Capital
Altree Capital invests in early-stage African startups. They participated in a Seed round for Uncover, a Kenyan e-commerce skincare marketplace. The firm seems to focus on companies with potential for expansion within Africa and potentially beyond, as Uncover plans to expand into the US, Ghana, and Uganda.
Angaza Capital
Angaza Capital invests in early-stage companies across Africa, focusing on sectors like healthcare, financial services, and logistics. They seek innovative solutions addressing critical needs and demonstrating scalability. Angaza Capital participated in funding rounds for Bfree, Ilara Health, and Helium Health.
Asi Ventures Limited
Asi Ventures Limited participated in a $10M Series A funding round for Turaco, a Kenyan insurtech company. Turaco provides medical, life, asset, and vehicle insurance packages to over 500,000 people in Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda.
Asime Ventures
Review pending
Black Pearl Investments
Black Pearl Investments invests in early-stage companies in Africa. They participated in a Pre-Series A debt and equity funding round for Ilara Health, a medical products and solutions provider distributing diagnostics devices to healthcare professionals in rural areas of Africa.
CEI Africa
CEI Africa invests in companies like InspiraFarms, which develops and installs efficient precooling and cold chain technology for preserving fresh produce, flowers, and animal protein within supply chains in Africa. They aim to make cooling solutions more accessible, efficient, and sustainable for businesses of all sizes.
Carbon Drawdown Initiative
Carbon Drawdown Initiative invests in companies focused on carbon removal technologies. They recently invested in Octavia Carbon, a Kenyan company pioneering direct air capture (DAC) technology in Africa, which builds systems that extract carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere.
Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund
Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund invests in early to growth-stage tech and tech-enabled companies across Africa. They focus on innovative business models that address specific African challenges and have the potential for significant scale. The fund seeks to support companies that leverage technology to improve efficiency, access, and affordability in various sectors.
Chandaria Capital
Chandaria Capital is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage startups in Africa. They focus on sectors such as B2B supply chain and logistics SaaS. They participated in a pre-seed round for Leta, a Kenyan B2B supply chain and logistics SaaS provider. They also invest in Sukhiba Connect, a B2B conversational commerce tool.
CityBlue Hotels
CityBlue Hotels invests in early-stage African tech startups. The firm is interested in companies revolutionizing food sourcing, distribution, and consumption in Kenya, and setting a new standard for food sustainability in the country. They participated in the undisclosed funding round of Farm to Feed, a B2B platform that optimizes agri-produce delivery and logistics operations in Kenya.
CrossBoundary
CrossBoundary invests in companies that sequester carbon from agricultural waste and convert it into useful fertilizers. The company's solutions are implemented across several land and forest regeneration projects. They support companies that improve the productivity of smallholder farmers.
CrosssFund
CrosssFund invests in early-stage startups in Africa. They focus on connecting retailers with manufacturers and suppliers, both locally and internationally. They participated in a $2 million seed round for Duhqa, a Kenyan startup enabling retailers to connect with manufacturers and other supply sources.
DOB Equity
DOB Equity invests in East African companies with a focus on sustainability and social impact. They target sectors such as agriculture, energy, and healthcare, providing capital and expertise to help businesses scale and create positive change within their communities. They look for companies with innovative solutions and strong growth potential.
Delta40
Delta40 invests in early-stage African startups. They participated in the seed round of PowerUP, a Kenyan clean-tech company that manufactures and operates smart-metered PAYGO electric stoves tailored for diverse African markets, promoting cleaner, cheaper, and faster cooking mechanisms among women in Africa. The investment will fuel PowerUP's expansion across Africa.
E-Squared Ventures
E-Squared Ventures invests in early-stage African tech startups. They focus on companies addressing critical needs and demonstrating strong growth potential across various sectors. They provide capital and support to help these startups scale and achieve sustainable impact within the African market.
E3 Capital’s Low-Carbon Economy Fund
E3 Capital's Low-Carbon Economy Fund invests in companies that are enabling the transition to a low-carbon economy. They focus on businesses that provide access to affordable and reliable clean energy, promote resource efficiency, and build climate resilience. The fund supports companies in East Africa and is stage agnostic.
E4Impact Accelerator
E4Impact Accelerator supports early-stage Kenyan Agrotech startups. They provide access to cash prizes, incubation programs, boot camp training, coaching, mentoring, technical assistance, networking opportunities, and links to financial aid/investment interests.
Enza Capital
Enza Capital invests in early-stage African tech startups. They focus on sectors like fintech, mobility, and enterprise software, providing seed and Series A funding to companies with high growth potential. The firm seeks to support innovative solutions addressing challenges in the African market, with a focus on scalability and impact.
Equator
Equator is an African venture capital firm that supports early-stage climate tech startups across the continent. They focus on companies providing solutions in areas such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and resource efficiency. Equator aims to drive both financial returns and positive environmental impact by investing in innovative and scalable businesses.
Exists.me
Exists.me invests in early-stage African tech startups. They participated in a seed round for Zeraki, a Kenyan edtech startup focused on improving education quality through technology. The funding will be used for product growth and expansion in East Africa.
FSD Africa Investments
FSD Africa Investments focuses on supporting the growth of African tech companies. They participated in a $30 million Series B round for Helium Health, a Nigerian healthtech startup offering software solutions for electronic medical records, hospital management, billing/medical loans, and analytics. They also provided debt financing to Haul247, a Nigerian logistics platform.
Frontend Ventures
Frontend Ventures is a Kenyan VC firm that invests in early-stage startups in East Africa. They focus on local founders and provide funding to help them grow their businesses. They participated in a pre-seed round for BuuPass, a Kenyan transportation booking platform.
Globivest
Globivest is an investor that participated in a seed extension round for Kwara, a Kenyan fintech company that helps traditional credit unions digitize their operations through its banking-as-a-service product. The fintech intends to add more features to cater to the credit unions, as well as additional products for its neobank app users.
Gullit
Gullit invests in early-stage African tech startups, as evidenced by their participation in a $1.3 million pre-seed round for BuuPass, a Kenyan transportation booking platform. The firm focuses on growth activities and increasing market share in East Africa, particularly in Kenya and Uganda.
Hesabu Capital
Hesabu Capital invests in African tech startups, with a focus on agriculture and related sectors. They participated in the Series B funding round of Victory Farms, an aquaculture startup based in Kenya, and Pula, an agri-insurance company. The firm supports companies that improve agricultural practices and protect farmers from climate-related risks.
IFHA
Villgro Africa is an impact investment firm supporting the growth of healthcare technology and services in Africa. It enables providers of innovative solutions in health services within Africa to grow and take their ideas to market. It runs a startup incubation program offering personalized mentoring and network access to its portfolio businesses. It invests in early-stage businesses in the health tech and life sciences sector.
IgniteXL
IgniteXL invests in early-stage African tech startups. They participated in the seed rounds of Uncover Skincare, a Kenyan e-commerce company focused on tailored beauty and skincare products for the African market. They focus on companies that are building solutions for the African market.
Inua Capital
Inua Capital invests in early-stage African tech startups. They focus on sectors such as fintech, e-commerce, and logistics, providing capital and support to help these companies scale and expand their operations across the continent. They aim to foster innovation and drive economic growth by backing promising entrepreneurs and disruptive technologies.
JAM fund
JAM Fund invests in early-stage startups, particularly at the seed stage. They focus on platforms that support restaurants with restocking and operations management. The fund participates alongside other investors in seed rounds.
Jaza Rift Ventures
Jaza Rift Ventures is an impact investment fund focused on enabling the development of advanced healthcare systems and services in Africa. They invest in innovative and impactful invention-based startups creating scalable healthcare solutions in Africa, primarily focusing on early-stage companies, providing capital backing for pre-seed, seed, and Series A stage startups in the health tech, Medtech, and digital health solutions.
Kara Ventures
Kara Ventures invests in early-stage African tech startups. They participated in a pre-Series A round for a Kenyan HR-tech startup, indicating an interest in HR and payroll solutions. The firm focuses on companies with the potential to scale across the continent.
KawiSafi
KawiSafi invests in companies that provide access to clean, reliable, and affordable energy in Sub-Saharan Africa. They focus on businesses that offer innovative solutions and technologies to address energy challenges in the region, promoting sustainable development and economic growth.
Key Carbon Ltd.
Key Carbon Ltd. invests in companies like Burn Manufacturing, which produces efficient cookstoves. Their investment supports the expansion of electric cookstove distribution in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia, and biomass stoves in Nigeria, DRC, and Mozambique.
Kua Ventures
Kua Ventures invests in early-stage African tech startups. They participated in a pre-seed round for Zydii, a Kenyan edtech startup offering digital courses for workforce upskilling, with plans to expand into Nigeria and South Africa.
Kula PCC
Kula PCC invests in early-stage companies in Africa, with a focus on sectors such as clean energy, climate tech, mobility, financial inclusion, and digital infrastructure. They provide both equity and blockchain infrastructure support to companies demonstrating long-term, scalable impact.
Livelihood Impact Fund
Livelihood Impact Fund invests in companies that improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. They focus on providing farm inputs, pest control services, and purchasing produce. The fund supports companies that enhance technological infrastructure and provide better support to farmers.
Mo Angels
Mo Angels invests in early-stage African tech startups. They participated in a seed round for Duhqa, a Kenyan startup connecting retailers with manufacturers and suppliers. The firm appears to focus on East African ventures, supporting companies in sectors like e-commerce and supply chain.
Musha Ventures
Musha Ventures invests in early-stage African tech companies. They participated in a seed round for HoneyCoin, a cross-border payment system, and Regfyl, a fraud detection and digital identity verification solution. They also invested in Sukhiba, a B2B conversational commerce tool.
Nairobi Business Angel Network
Nairobi Business Angel Network (NBAN) invests in early-stage African tech startups. They participated in a pre-seed round for Zydii, a Kenyan edtech startup offering an employee training platform with digital courses tailored for Africa. Zydii plans to strengthen its presence in Kenya and expand to Nigeria and South Africa.
Nairobi Business Angels Network
Nairobi Business Angels Network invests in early-stage companies in Kenya. They participated in a seed round for Zeraki, an edtech startup focused on improving education quality through technology. Zeraki plans to use the funding to expand its product offerings and grow its presence in East Africa.
Next Billion Ventures
Next Billion Ventures invests in early-stage startups in Africa. They participated in a seed round for TopUp Mama, a Kenya-based platform that helps restaurants restock and manage their operations. The firm focuses on ventures that address critical needs and opportunities in emerging markets, particularly those leveraging technology to improve access and efficiency.
Novastar Ventures
Novastar Ventures invests in early-stage ventures addressing mass-market needs in Africa. They focus on sectors like agriculture, energy, education, healthcare, and financial services. The firm seeks scalable and impactful businesses that improve the quality of life for underserved populations across the continent. They provide both capital and strategic support to help ventures grow and achieve sustainable impact.
One Day Yes
One Day Yes is an active venture capital investor in the African tech ecosystem. They participated in a seed extension round for Kwara, a Kenyan fintech company that digitizes operations for traditional credit unions through its banking-as-a-service product. The fintech intends to add more features to cater to the credit unions, as well as additional products for its neobank app users.
One Small Planet
One Small Planet invests in companies that are building a more sustainable future. They focus on companies that are developing innovative solutions to address climate change and other environmental challenges. They invested in Roam, an electric vehicle manufacturer in Kenya.
Perivoli Foundation
Perivoli Foundation invests in companies like Copia Global, which operates a B2C e-commerce and fintech platform serving mid and low-income consumers in rural areas. They focus on companies with a social impact component.
